Friday, January 27, 2012

2012 Valentine Love Project

One of the sweet things about going through Grandma's house this past Christmas was the wonderful pile of family photographs that we discovered. Up to that point, I had about 3 photographs from my husband's childhood.

We are gearing up to teach another holiday class at Deseret Book in February. (We'll be there February 4th from 10-12.) Our ornament projects are pretty popular there and with Valentines Day right around the corner, we thought of another simple project that uses the 2" wood block.

Suni was tasked with coming up with our samples. Imagine my joy when she returned these using pictures featuring photos from the life of our mom and grandma that had just passed away. I think it's the perfect way to say I Love You!

Of course, we want to share this project with you...First, you need to gather some supplies:2" Wood BlocksDecorative Paper - or print out our Love Blocks Valentine Project .pdf. Just be sure to use a laser printer!Decoupage Glue - We like ModPodge's Matte GlueFoam BrushScissors2" Pictures (Print these on regular paper using a laser printer.)Sandpaper / Sanding blockDistress ink / chalk (optional)Finishing Spray

Step 1:Prepare your pictures. You have two options. Either print each picture to be at least as large as your blocks. Use the edge of the block to trace around each picture and cut away the excess. Or, you can use the Photo Wizardto get your picture to the exact size that is needed for this project. [Use the Block/Box - ORNAMENT option for the 2" block.] Need help using the Photo Wizard. See our demo. Still need help? We're only a mouse click away. Just email us at mythoughts@storiesbyme.com. Cut each picture to size.

Be sure to print your pictures using a LASER printer! Ink jet colors tend to smear when they get wet!!

Step 2:The cut ends of the wood absorb more glue than the grained ends. Before beginning this step, apply a layer of glue of glue to the ends with the rougher (cut) surfaces. Let glue dry.

Apply a thin layer of glue to the first side of one block. Place picture over glue and press in to place. Remove any air bubbles.

Check for overhanging paper edges. It is important to WAIT for the glue to dry before attempting to remove any excess paper.

Once all of the picture are in place, add decorative paper to the top and bottom of each block. Don't worry about matching sides. A random look is great!

Step 3:If you like the vintage look shown in our example, sand all the corners of the block being careful not to sand across the picture.

This step gives the block a worn look; like it's been around for ages. We darken the exposed wood to make the project look even older!

Step 4:Protect the pictures by adding several layers of decoupage glue over the top of the photos. This process is time-consuming because you must wait for the glue to dry. Instead of glue, we'll sometimes add several light coats of a matte acrylic spray when pressed for time.

Yay! We're glad you tried the project. We're also glad to hear that you finished it quickly (same day we posted). Next Saturday's class is bursting with signups and we want to make sure everyone leaves with a finished project.